John Henderson (geologist)

John Henderson CBE (13 May 1880 – 5 March 1959) was a New Zealand geologist and science administrator.

John Henderson
Born(1880-05-13)13 May 1880
Dunedin, New Zealand
Died5 March 1959(1959-03-05) (aged 78)
Hataitai, Wellington, New Zealand
Alma materUniversity of Otago

Biography

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Born in Dunedin in 1880, Henderson was educated at Otago Boys' High School.[1] He then studied at the University of Otago, where he completed his BSc and Diploma in Mining and Certificate of Metallurgical Chemist and Assayer in 1902.[2] He graduated MA from Victoria University College in 1906,[3][4] and DSc from Otago and Victoria in 1908.[5]

He served as director of the Reefton School of Mines from 1903 to 1911, when he joined the New Zealand Geological Survey as a mining geologist. He succeeded Percy Morgan as director of the Geological Survey in 1928. Henderson retired in 1945 and was himself succeeded by Montague Ongley.[6]

He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of New Zealand in 1929,[7] and was award the society's Hector Medal in 1945.[8] In the 1948 New Year Honours he was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire, in recognition of his service as director of the New Zealand Geological Survey.[9]

Henderson died at his home in the Wellington suburb of Hataitai in 1959,[1] and his ashes were buried in Karori Cemetery.[10]

References

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  1. ^ a b "John Henderson (1880–1959)". Transactions of the Royal Society of New Zealand. 87 (1/2): 113–117. July 1959.
  2. ^ "Otago School of Mines". Otago Daily Times. 9 May 1903. p. 2. Retrieved 21 October 2014.
  3. ^ "NZ university graduates 1870–1961: Ha–He". Retrieved 21 October 2014.
  4. ^ "Degree day". Evening Post. 29 June 1906. p. 6. Retrieved 21 October 2014.
  5. ^ "Capping day". Evening Post. 25 June 1908. p. 8. Retrieved 21 October 2014.
  6. ^ "Director retires". Evening Post. 13 July 1945. p. 6. Retrieved 21 October 2014.
  7. ^ "The Academy: G–I". Royal Society of New Zealand. Retrieved 21 October 2014.
  8. ^ "Hector Medal". Royal Society of New Zealand. Retrieved 21 October 2014.
  9. ^ "No. 38162". The London Gazette (Supplement). 1 January 1948. p. 44.
  10. ^ "Cemeteries search". Wellington City Council. 12 July 2012. Retrieved 21 October 2014.